Shirt board



June 14, 1938. Q F, H155 2,120,466

SHIRT BOARD Filed Oct. 8, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [Nl/ENTOR george .grelen'cr Hiss B Y Patented June 14, 1938 UNITED STATES SHIRT BOARD George Frederick Hiss, Los Angeles, Calif.

i Application 'October 8,

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel one-piece shirt board adapted for use in shirt factories and laundries and upon which a shirt may be folded, and securely retained thez'eon in folded position, and whereby such shirt may be folded upon said board so that a minimum surface of the board will be exposed when the shirt is folded thereabout.

This invention relates to improvements over my co-pending application for a Shirt board, flied September 19, 1929, Serial No. 393,696, and my co-pending application for a Shirt board, filed April 21, 1933, Serial No. 667,169.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and novel one-piece shirt board which is Acut in such a manner as to adapt it to permit a shirt to be folded thereon and to securely retain such shirt on the board.

An object is to provide a novel one-piece shirt board which is cut and creased in such a manner as to adapt it for folding and securing purposes so that when a shirt is folded therearound and the board secured and folded as contemplated, the shirt will be maintained in a rigid and smooth condition so that shirts may be conveniently handled by factory help and by store keepers and the board will tend to prevent likelihood of the shirt collapsing during shipping of the same, and also the front of the shirt will be devoid of any portion of the shirt board and the shirt tail will be securely locked in folded position so' as to prevent accidental displacement thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel shirt board upon which a shirt may be secured by easy folding operations and without requiring the use of pins or extraneous fastening devices to hold the shirt in place upon the board; and which shirt board may also as a further object, be used in conjunction with a band and seal, to securely seal a shirt on the board so that a shirt folded thereabout may not be removed-therefrom, or displaced thereon, without the seal being broken.

Another object is to provide a novel shirt board made from a single rectangular piece of cardboard, which is also provided with a novel detachable portion which may be used when displaying the shirt to maintain the collar in a, suitable upstanding position.

Another object is to provide a novel member adapted to be received within the collar of a shirt having an attached collar so that such collar may be maintained in a substantially upright position.

A still further object is to provide novel integral means on a shirt board by cuts formed in said board Within the outline thereof, whereby.

the yoke and sleeves of a shirt folded about said board may be securely locked to the board.

A still further object is to provide a novel 1934, Serial No. 747,349

shirt board made from a one-piece rectangularl shirt of cardboard provided within its outline, with various novel cuts or incisions and folds.

about which a shirt may be folded and securely retained on such board without the use of pins or extraneous holding means and which will also maintain the collar of a shirt with collar at- .tached in a flat position, but may be provided with detachable part that may be used to support or hold the collar of such a shirt in an upright position; thereby reducing to a minimum, likelihood of wrinkling such collar during shipping, transporting, er storage purposes, and which will permit of easy and quick application for maintenance of the collar in a suitable upright position for display purposes.

A still further object is to provide novel and simple means whereby cuffs of a shirt may be secured to the board.

Features of the invention reside in the various cuts or incisions and folds provided in the shirt board, and also in the method and manner of folding the shirt about said board, as well as simplicity, cheapness and ease of use.

A further feature and object of my invention is the provision of a novel shirt board as above referred to that may be made from cardboard coated on one side only, thereby to reduce the cost of such board, and which board when in folded position will expose only a minimum surface thereof, and which exposed surface will be the coated side of the board. Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detail description and the appended claims.

'I'he accompanying drawings illustrate the invention in a form I at present deem preferable. c

Figure 1 is a front plan view of a shirt mounted upon my novel shirt board, and shows that when a shirt is mounted thereon, no part of such board is visible from the front of the shirt. The collar supporting means, however, has been withdrawn a short distance into the neck'of the shirt to illustrate Where the same is preferably carried, and such extension has been made merely for illustrative purposes.

Fig. 2 is a rear plan view of the shirt board having a shirt mounted thereon, and in addition is provided with a band and seal, to seal the shirt on the board.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the complete board the same being at an extended position showing the various flaps, tabs and foldable elements and cuts preparatory for being arranged and in position for use, but with the collar supporting flap tearably connected thereto.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rear plan view of the shirt board having a shirt partially folded thereation of mounting a shirt upon the board.

Fig. 5 is a rear perspective view of the board and shirt showing an intermediate step of the operation of mounting a shirt upon the board.

Fig. 6 is a rear view of the board and shirt showing the seal broken and one cuff removed from its receiving member. Parts are broken away to contract the view and to illustrate a fragment of the collar band engaging member which would otherwise be hidden.

Fig. '7 is a rear plan view of the shirt board having a shirt partially folded therearound to show another intermediate step of the operation of mounting the shirt upon the board. Parts of the shirt are broken away to contract the View.

Fig. 8 is a fragmental rear plan View of the shirt board having a shirt partially folded therearound and showing the sleeve retaining means in locked position. Parts of the shirt have been broken away to contract the view.

Fig. 9 is a fragmental perspective view showing the collar supporting member in place and maintaining the collar in an upright position for display purposes.

Fig. 10 is a perspective detail view of the member for supporting an attached collar in a substantially upright position.

The shirt board I is preferably made of cardboard in a single elongate rectangular piece having a body portion 2 and a skirt retaining flap or portion 3 on the opposite end thereof, which is connected to an intermediate foldable portion 4 by a transverse folding line 5 or line of flexure which may be a scored line or a series of alternate scored portions 6 and incisions 1, as shown in the drawings.

A collar supporting member 8, hereinafter more particularly described, is detachably connected to the skirt retaining portion 3 by perforations or serrations 9, so that the same may be easily torn from such portion 3 before a shirt is folded about the board l.

The intermediate foldable portion 4 is provided at one end of the body portion 2 and between the skirt retaining ap 3 and body portion 2, and a transverse folding line I0 separates or marks off the intermediate foldable portion 4 from the body portion 2 and provides a line 0f flexure on which the body portion 2 and intermediate foldable portion 4 is folded.

'I'he body portion 2 is provided at its upper end and between such body portion and the intermediate foldable portion 4 with a cut II which provides a member I2 upstanding from one end of body portion 2 at the line of flexure I0 thereof, and along the longitudinal medial line of the shirt board I and which member I2 is adapted to be received in the collar band of a shirt positioned on, or folded about, the board I.

The body portion 2 is provided near the end thereof, to which the intermediate foldable portion 4 is connected, with sleeve retaining means which comprise the members I3 that are formed by transversely spaced oppositely disposed longitudinal incisions or cuts I4, each of which is joined at one end by an outwardly directed curved incision or cut I5. The other end of each cut I4 is provided with an angular cut I6 and in which cuts I4, I5 and I6 the yoke and sleeves of a shirt may be received.

A sleeve locking tab I1 is cut out from the body portion 2 by a cut or incision I8 and is integrally connected thereto at one end along the folding line I9 and is adapted to be folded about said line around to show an intermediate step of the oper-- I9 over the inner ends of members I3; and suchsleeve locking tab I1 is provided with an arcuate incision 20 that forms a'lock means 2| that is received in a slot 22 formed by a cut or incision in the body portion 2, above and extending transversely of, the longitudinal cuts I6. From the drawings (Fig. 3) it will be seen that the sleeve locking tab I1 is disposed below the longitudinal (Izirits I4 and outwardly directed curved incisions The intermediate foldable portion 4 is-provided with cuff retaining flaps 23 that are cut out of and connected to such intermediate flap 4 by oppositely disposed cuts 24, which include cuts 25 that extend in parallelism with the longitudinal edges 26 of the shirt board I, and transverse cuts 21 that extend in parallelism with the cuts 1 which preferably form a part of the folding line 6 and such cuts 21 and 1 are connected to the cuts 25 by tapered or rounded cuts 28 and at the inner ends of cuts 21 and 1 an inwardly directed arcuate cut 29 is provided and between which the cuff retaining flaps 23 are connected to the intermediate ap 4.

It will thus be seen that a cuff receiving member 23 is provided along each longitudinal edge of the intermediate flap 4 and that such cuff receiving members 23 extend therefrom so that their free edges are open toward the longitudinal edges 26 of the shirt board I and are adapted to be received within the cuff 30 of a shirt 3| folded about the shirt board I.

'I'he body portion 2 is provided with a scored transverse foldable line 32, which will permit easy folding of the body portion 2 about such foldable line 32 in the event the shirt is desired Ito be folded for traveling or condensed display purposes.

The collar supporting member 8 is provided along one of its free edges at substantially its mid-length with an extension member 33 that is preferably in the form of an arcuate extending edge 34 and the extension member 33 is integrally connected to the collar supporting member along a line of exure 35 that is offset from the lon'- gitudinal edge 36 of the collar supporting member 8 by means of the cuts 31 that respectively converge from the edge 36 and line of flexure 35 toward each other; thereby providing on the collar supporting member, when the extension member 33 is folded as shown in Fig. 10, an inclined surface 38 that is hidden by the collar of the shirt 3I when collar supporting member 8 is in use and when the shirt is viewed from the front thereof.

The longitudinal edges of the intermediate foldable portion 4 and the skirt retaining portion 3 are preferably offset a slight distance as at 39 from the longitudinal edges of the body portion 2 and the purpose of which will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In carrying out my invention the collar supporting member 8 may be attached to the skirt retaining portion 3 as shown, or to the opposite end of the shirt board I, as to the free end of the body portion 2, but is preferably attached to the skirt retaining portion 3, because of convenience of location when the shirt board isl positioned on the shirt in the operation of folding a shirt about the board. However, such collar supporting member 8 may be entirely detached from the shirt board I and may also be used in connection with other shirt boards. now in use, whereby a collar attached to a shirt is desired to be supported in a substantially upstanding posiboard is as follows: The shirt is placed upon a table top or other suitable support (not shown) with the front or bosom portion thereof downward or lying directly upon the support. The shirt board I is then laid upon the shirt lengthwise thereof and at substantially the midwidth of the shirt and with the coated side thereof placed next to the shirt, and the intermediate foldable portion 4 is then raised so as to free the upstanding member I2, which is inserted in the collar band of the shirt after which the portion 4 and skirt retaining portion 3 is laid upon the support ln an extended position as shown in Fig. 7. The collar supporting member 8 is then detached from the skirt retaining portion 3` and laid to one side. Then the two side portions of the shirt that extend beyond the sides of the board I are folded over the board toward each other until they occupy the position substantially illustrated in Fig. 8. However, as each side portion of the shirt is folded over the board toward each other, the sleeves of the shirt and adjacent yoke portion thereof are brought into position lso that the shoulder of the sleeves or the yoke of the shirt are slipped under the members I3 (see Fig. 7), and the sleeve portions that are slipped under members I 3, as just recited, are moved toward the collar band of the shirt so that such sleeve portions occupy the angular portion of the members I3 formed by the cuts I6. After both side portions of the shirt are folded over the board and the sleeves secured under members I3, the locking tab II is folded over members I3 as well as the sleeves or shoulder portions thereof engaged by members I3, and the lock means 2| on tab I'I is inserted in slot 22 so as to securely lock the tab I'I to the body portion 2 of' the shirt board and thereby securely lock the shoulder portions of the sleeve to the board.

The shirt sleeves are then folded on the shirt board so that the cuii portions 38 of the shirt project from the sides of the shirt board on opposite sides thereof as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6.

The skirt 40 of shirt 3| is then folded upon the body portion 2 around the lower edge 4I of the body portion 2 and it has been found that in substantially all instances such skirt portion 40 will project above the collar 42 of shirt 3| as shown in Fig. 4. The skirt retaining portion 3 is then folded about its folding line 5 so that the skirt retaining portion or flap 3 is folded upon the intermediate foldable portion 4 and over a portion of the skirt 40 as shown in Fig. 5, and the free end of which skirt 48 will then be between the skirt retaining flap 3 and the intermediate foldable portion or cuff retaining portion 4. The portions 3 and 4 are then folded along the folding line I onto the body portion 2 and on top of the shirt skirt previously folded thereupon and the free edge 42' of the skirt retaining ap 3 (formed by removing the collar supporting member 8) acts as a locking ridge which prevents the skirt 40 from being withdrawn from between the flap 3 and flap 4 when such flaps are folded onto the body portion 2 of the shirt board.

The cuff retaining flaps 23 are then raised and the cuffs 38 of the shirt are positioned thereon by slipping them thereover to the position as shown by the folded cuffs in Figs. 2 and 6.

A tape or ribbon 54 may then be positioned transversely around the shirt and shirt board and the free ends 44 thereof are secured together in any suitable manner but preferably by a seal 45 which is secured to the seal portion 46' on flap 4 and which is presented by the space between the ends of the cuffs 30 when they are positioned `on the cuff retaining flaps 23.

This makes it possible for a shirt manufacturer to fold a shirt about a shirt board without the use of any pins and to securely seal the shirt to the shirt board about which it is folded, by a factory seal 45 which of necessity will be destroyed or show indications of being tampered with if the shirt is unfolded from the board before it ultimately reaches the final purchaser, thereby protecting the public from tampering with the factory's product as well as from unnecessary handling which may be occasioned by removing and replacing the shirt upon the board before its nal sale.

The offset portions of the flaps 3 and 4 as indicated at 39 will insure the fact that the shirt board will not be visible when viewed from the front thereof,` as in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I may use a cardboard coated on one side only in the manufacture of my shirt board and when such coated surface is placed next to the supporting surface and shirt when a shirt is being folded therearound, such coated surface will be exposed only to the extent shown in Fig. 2 and the uncoated surface will not be visible when a shirt is folded on the board as all such uncoated surface will be within the folds of the shirt.

The collar supporting member 8 that was previously detached from the skirt flap 3 is inserted within the shirt by slipping the same through the neck opening 41 as shown in Fig. 1.

If it is desired to support a collar attached to a shirt in a substantially upright position as for example for display purposes vor as is customary in laundries to prevent crushing of the collar the supporting member 8 is bent into circular form as shown in Fig. and the extension member 33 is flexed so that it extends forwardly from the elongate narrow body portion 48 of the collar supporting member 8 as shown in Fig. 10 and then such member 8 is inserted in the collar 42 as shown in Fig. 9 and the extension member 33 is received underneath the facing strip 49 of the shirt 3I thereby tending to raise and maintain the collar and the adjacent facing strip in an upright position. It is preferable to fold the extension member 33 onto the uncoated face of the body portion 48 of Ythe supporting member 8 so that when the supporting member is in position, the coated surface thereof will be visible or exposed in the neck of the shirt. The extension member 33 is normally held in an angular position as shown in Fig. 10 due to the resiliency of the cardboard from which it is formed and the natural urge `of -the fibres of the cardboard to' straighten themselves after they have been compressed by folding the extension member 33 about its folding line 35. I

When it is desired to remove the shirt from the board the sealing means B, including the ribbon 44 and seal 45 is broken so as to permit the cuffs to be removed from the cuf retaining flap and after the cuffs are withdrawn therefrom the unfolding and removal of the shirt will be apparent from the foregoing.

In this specification the use of the term collar band of a shirt is understood to mean the neck band of a shirt as well as that portion between the folds of a. collar of a shirt having a collar attached, and it will be apparent to those skilled 4- in the m that when a shirt with a heer haha is desired to be folded about my novel shirt board.

that the member I! may be reduced in size to form aprojecting tab of suillcient size to enter the collar band in the usual space providedI therein to receive the back collar button.

In the event a shirt when mounted on the..

preferably so that the lower portion of the shirt b shown in Fig. 1 is folded rearwardly onto the cuffs 30 thereby enabling-the shirt to be easily carried in a hand bag or to be accommodated on shelves of a minimum depth.

I claim:

l. A shirt board comprising a `body portion; a foldable portion connected to one end, of said body portion and adapted to be folded upon one face thereof a skirt retaining portion connected to one end of said foldable portion and adapted to be folded onto said foldable portion and said body portion; and a projection formed by cuts in said foldable portion and extending from one end of said body portion when said foldable portion is moved to folded position.

2. A shirt board comprising a body portion and a foldable portion at one end thereof; a skirt retaining portion connected to and foldable upon said foldable portion; a projection cut out from said foldable portion and extend; ing from one end of said body portion when said foldable portion is moved to folded position; and cuff retaining flaps out out of said foldable portion and adapted to be received within the -cuis of a shirt folded about said board.

3. A shirt board comprising a body portion; sleeve retaining means formed by cuts in said body portion; a sleeve locking tab cut out from said body portion and adapted to be folded over said sleeve retaining means; and means associating said locking tab with said body portion to maintain said locking tab in position relative to said body portion and over said sleeve retaining means. n

4. A shirt board including a body portion having a slot therein; sleeve retaining means formed by cuts in said body portion; a sleeve locking tab cut out from said body portion and adapted to be folded over said sleeve retaining means; lock means out out from said sleeve locking tab and adapted to be inserted in said slot when said locking tab is folded over said sleeve retaining means. l

5. A shirt board including a body portion; an intermediate foldable portion at one end of said body portion and foldable lengthwise of said body portion upon one face thereof; a skirt retaining portion at'the other end of said intermediate portion and foldable upon said intermediate portion and adapted to receive between said skirt portion and said intermediate foldable portion the skirt of a shirt folded about the body portion of said board; and cuff retaining flaps cut out from said intermediate portion and adapted to be received within the cuffs of a shirt folded about the body portion of said board.

6. A shirt board including a body portion; an intermediate foldable portion at one end of said body portion and foldable lengthwise of said body portion upon one face thereof; a skirt retaining portion at the other end of said intermediate portion and foldable upon said intermediate portion and adapted to receive between said skirt portion and said intermediate foldable portionl the skirt of a shirt folded about the body portion of said board; and cui! retaining flaps cut out from said intermediate' portion and adapted to be received within the cuna of a shirt folded about the body portion of said board, said cuff retaining flaps respectively extending from said inter. mediate foldable portion toward each longitudinal edge thereof.

retaining flaps cut out of and connected to said foldable portion and adapted to be received within the cuffs of a shirt folded about said board; said cuff retaining flaps extending from said foldable'portion so that their free edges open toward the longitudinal edges of said shirt board.

8. A shirt board comprising a body portion, and a foldable portion at one end thereof and adapted to be folded thereon; a skirt retaining portion connected to one end of said foldable portion and adapted to be folded on said foldable portion and onto said body portion when said foldable portion is moved to folded position; cui! retaining flaps cut out f and connected to said foldable portion and adapted to be received within the cuis of a shirt folded about said board; said cuff retaining flaps extending from said foldable portion so that their free edges open toward the longitudinal edges of said shirt board, one side of said-cuff retaining flaps being adjacent to the connection between said skirt retaining portion and said foldable portion.

9. A shirt board comprising a body portion; a cuff retaining portion connected to one end of said body portion; a member cut out from said cuff retaining portion and extending from one end of said body portion when said cuff retaining portion is moved to folded position; a skirt retaining portion connected to one end of said cuff retaining portion and adapted to be folded over said cuiI retaining portion; and cuff retaining means cut out from said cuff retaining portion; said body portion being provided intermediate its length with a transverse folding line whereby said body portion may be easily folded upon itself.

10. 'Ihe combination of a shirt board and a shirt folded around said board, said shirt board comprising a substantially rectangular body portion; a foldable portion connected .to be folded on said body portion; a skirt retaining portion connected to said foldable portion and adapted to be folded upon said foldable portion and upon a shirt skirt folded upon said foldable portionso that said shirt skirt will be between said skirt retaining flap and said foldable portion when said skirt retaining portion and foldable portion are moved to folded position; tabs cut out from said foldable portion adapted to receive the cufl's'of a shirt folded upon said board there being an unobstructed and exposed space on the foldable portion between the free ends of said cuffs when mounted on said tabs; and means encircling said shirt and shirt board and connected to said unobstructed and exposed space to seal said shirt to' 

